A third case, involving an autistic teenager who had his testicle ruptured at a home run by Spectrum Care, which no one was held accountable for, was revealed last month.

Minister of Health Tony Ryall ordered a review of the auditing, monitoring and accreditation of disabled care residences after the coverage.

However, some of those in the sector, including Disability Rights Commissioner Paul Gibson, have said that does not go far enough, and have called for disability services to be removed from Ministry of Health control.

The families of those who lived in the facilities agree the review is unlikely to provide redress for what their relatives suffered and want the ministry investigated via a legal process.

"This is the only way that you can get any justice," said advocate Colin Burgering from the Justice Action Group, who advises some of the families involved. "It's not about the money, it's about holding the ministry accountable."

Katharine Ross, from Cooper Law, was confident the case stacked up and there was potential to look at other residences.